The Pout-pout Fish Goes to School

Mr. Fish is nervously awaiting his first day of school, and he frets about not knowing how to write his name, how to draw shapes, and how to do math--until he's reassured that school is the perfect place to learn how to master all of these new skills, in Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School from Deborah Diesen and Dan Hanna.

Comment

A long time ago when Mr. Fish was a little fish, he started school for the first time. But he didn't know where to go or what to do. He entered the first room he came across, but they were writing and he didn't know how to write. So he left and went to another classroom where they were doing shapes. He didn't know how to do shapes either. After a few attempts, he decided to leave, feeling that he wasn't smart enough for school. But just as he was leaving, the kindergarten teacher came and brought him to the room for new fish where she told him he was smart enough. He wasn't expected to know things he hadn't learned yet. So he settled in and learned beside the other new fish who became his friends for life.

I absolutely adore Hanna's illustrations. There are so many fun and quirky details like the backpacks with fins and Ms. Clam sitting on a clam booster. Once again, I could look at these vibrant pictures over and over again.

I love the Pout Pout series. I love how the fish work together to make things better for each other. I had a little more trouble with this book because Mr. Fish kept telling himself that he wasn't smart, he wouldn't get it, and that he didn't belong. He goes through this three times before finding his place. This book is meant for an audience of new learners and these statements are dispiriting. Happily, it all turns around in the end and the teacher reminds her students that they are smart and they can get it. While reading this aloud, I would recommend showing a lot of empathy for Mr. Fish and his difficulties. Advertised for ages 3-6.

Summary

For fans of Pout-Pout Fish, author Deborah Diesen has followed up The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark with a similarly reassuring picture book, The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School.
On Pout-Pout’s first day of school, he lost his way. Where was his locker? Which classroom was his? Where was his new teacher?
He peeked into various rooms and saw students who were writing, doing math and drawing geometric shapes. “I can’t do any of those things,” Pout-Pout thought sadly to himself, blowing some worried blub-blub bubbles. “Maybe I don’t belong at school!”
Just then, he met his new teacher in the hallway. Miss Hewitt was friendly and kind, and she took him to the kindergarten class which was especially for brand-new fish. She told Pout-Pout Fish that school was the place where students learned how to print, write, do math and draw shapes. “Now don’t you fret / You haven’t learned yet / I am here to help you learn… And I know that you can do it!”
This cleverly-written, rhythmic picture book introduces the joy of learning and will assuage children’s first-day fears about what will be expected of them at school.
** Recommended for ages 3 to 5 years.